Flexible module connector building toy set

ABSTRACT

A toy building set that contains a plurality of building members. At least one of the building members includes a connector attached to a flexible linkage. The connector can snap onto the linkage of another building member. Allowing the connector to be snapped onto the linkage of another member provides flexibility in the location of the attachment and the design of the structure created from the building set. The flexible nature of the linkages also provides greater artistic freedom in creating a structure with the building set.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a toy building set.

2. Prior Art

There have been marketed various toy building sets that allow the user to build toy structures and figures. For example, LINCOLN LOGS and LEGO blocks are two products that include a number of individual pieces that can be assembled into various structures. Both of the products contain rigid pieces with some type of male/female connections.

The Ohio Art Company marketed a doll line under the name BETTY SPAGHETTY that included a plurality of vinyl clad wire parts. The user could attach the wire parts to connect flexible arms and legs, etc, to a torso to vary the appearance of the doll. The toy building sets of the prior art typically include linkages that are attached to the end of another linkage or part. It would be desirable to provide a toy building set that contains flexible linkages and allows for attachment at various points on a linkage.

A toy building set that includes a plurality of building members, at least one of the building members includes a connector attached to a flexible linkage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration showing building members of a toy building set;

FIG. 2 is an illustration showing building members of the toy building set;

FIG. 3 is an illustration showing a toy vehicle constructed with the toy building set;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a toy character constructed with a toy building set;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a toy flower constructed with a toy building set.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a toy building set that contains a plurality of building members. At least one of the building members includes a connector attached to a flexible linkage. The connector can snap onto the linkage of another building member. Allowing the connector to be snapped onto the linkage of another member provides flexibility in the location of the attachment and the design of the structure created from the building set. The flexible nature of the linkages also provides greater artistic freedom in creating a structure with the building set.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a toy building set 10. The building set 10 may include a plurality of flexible building members 12. Each flexible building member 12 may include a pair of connectors 14 attached to the ends of a flexible linkage 16.

Each flexible linkage 16 may include a bendable wire 18 covered by a protective sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 may be constructed from a vinyl or other similar type material. The flexible linkages 16 can be bent into various configurations.

Each connector 14 may include a plurality of fingers 22 separated by an opening 24. The fingers 22 may be semi-flexible and the opening 24 may have a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible linkages 16 so that the connectors 14 can snap onto and off of the linkages 16. The connectors 14 can be constructed from a plastic material such as polypropylene, rigid polyethylene, rubberized ABS or rigid vinyl. The shape of the fingers allow one linkage to be connected to another linkage at index locations, for example at 90 degrees.

The ability of the connectors 14 to snap onto the flexible linkages 16 allows one building member to be attached to various locations of the second building member. This capability improves the artistic freedom to the user of the set. This is to be distinguished from prior art building sets wherein the building members are only attached to the ends of the members, or other fixed locations.

FIG. 2 shows some other building members of the building set including a male connector cruciform 30 and a female connector cruciform 32. The male connector cruciform 30 may include four male connectors 34 each attached to a rigid linkage 36. The female connector cruciform 32 may include four female connectors 38 that extend from corresponding rigid linkages 40. The male connectors 34 can snap into the female connectors 38. Although rigid linkages 36 and 40 are shown and described, it is to be understood that the linkages 36 and 40 may be flexible members that are the same or similar to linkages 16 shown in FIG. 1. Although not shown, the flexible member(s) shown in FIG. 1 may have male connectors 34.

FIG. 3 shows a toy vehicle 50 that is constructed with a toy building set. The building set includes a plurality of flexible building members 12. The toy set may also include toy wheels 52, a toy cab 54 and other accessories 56. The wheels 52, cab 54 and other accessories 56 may have male and/or female connectors that can be attached to other building members. Some of the flexible members 12 can be bent to change the shape of the toy vehicles.

Another advantage to using flexible linkages is the ability to use linkages of non-equal length. For example, a user may want to assemble two linkages in parallel but only has a nine inch linkage and a eight inch linkage. The nine inch linkage can be bent to have the same length as the eight inch linkage.

FIG. 4 shows a toy character 60 that is constructed with a toy building set. The building set includes a plurality of flexible building members 12. The toy set may also include a toy character head 62, a toy torso 64 and toy feet 66. The head 62, torso 64 and feat 66 may have male and/or female connectors that can be attached to other building members.

FIG. 5 shows a toy flower pot 70 that is constructed with a toy building set. The building set includes a plurality of flexible building members 12. The toy set 70 may also include a toy character pot 72, a toy flower 74 and toy leaves 76. The pot 72, flower 74 and leaves 76 may have male and/or female connectors that can be attached to other building members. The flexible member 12 of a “branch” can be attached to various locations of a flexible member 12 “trunk” to change the appearance of the toy flower.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art. 

1. A toy building set, comprising: a plurality of building members, at least one of said building members include a connecter attached to a flexible linkage.
 2. The building set of claim 1, wherein said flexible linkage includes a bendable wire covered by an outer sleeve.
 3. The building set of claim 1, wherein said connector is a female connector.
 4. The building set of claim 1, wherein said female connector has an opening that is smaller than an outer diameter of said flexible linkage.
 5. The building set of claim 1, wherein said connector is a male connector.
 6. The building set of claim 3, wherein said female connector snaps onto said flexible linkage.
 7. The building set of claim 1, wherein one of said building members includes four connectors.
 8. The building set of claim 1, wherein one of said building members is a wheel.
 9. The building set of claim 1, wherein one of said building members is at least a part of a toy character.
 10. A method for using a toy building set, comprising: attaching a connector of a first building member to a flexible linkage of a second building member.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the connector snaps onto the flexible linkage.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the connector is attached to a flexible linkage of the first building member.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the connector is attached to a wheel.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the connector is attached to at least a part of a toy character.
 15. The method of claim 10, further comprising attaching a connector of the second building member to a connector of a third building member. 